Reperforating apparatus



Jan. l, 1952 H. W. GoFF REPERFOBATING APPARATUS Filed sept. 25, 1948/Nl/EA/TOR H. W. GOFF 6? `m ATTORNEY Jm.` 1, 1952 H w, @OFF 2,581,184

REPERFORATING APPARATUS Filed sept.y 23, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 /NVENTORH. W. GOF.' F @6. M

ATTORNEY QN wo.

Patented Jan. l, 1952 REPERFORATING APPARATUS Harold W. Goff, Manhasset,N. Y., assignor to Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated, New York,YN. Y., a corporation of New York Application September 23, 1948, SerialNo. 50,754

8 Claims.

This invention relates generally to perforating mechanisms and moreparticularly to gang reperforators wherein a plurality of perforatingunits or mechanisms is controlled by a common reading or sensing orotherwise selectively operable mechanism in an electromechanical mannerto reproduce selectively in one or more of said units information reador sensed by said sensing mechanism or to produce in one or more of saidunits information sent thereto from a remote point. i

The present invention is specifically useful as a means for sortingcoded intelligence punched in random fashion in a record medium, such asa tape. For instance, in automatic message accounting systems forautomatic telephone systems a tape may bte-perforated in a code ofintelligence representing items of information pertaining to telephonecalls which require subscriber billing. This information, such ascalling number, called number, length of conversation, rate of charge,etc., is generally recorded in Composite tapes-in the form of punched orpierced holes in some convenient code. One such code, used hereinafteras an example, represents information by digits and records these digitsas two punched holes out of a possibler ve. Since such information asthe called number, callingr number, length of conversation, rate ofcharge, time of day, etc., are not all available at one time forrecording in an orderly manner, such information must be recorded as itis available. Consequently, a composite tape will contain code entriesfor all calls interspersed at random in time sequence.

It is necessary for accounting and billing purposes ,toaccumulata on saya single tape, all items of information pertaining to a particular call.Such is theV general object of the present invention.

One object of the present invention is to sort the random codedinformation contained on a composite tape and to reproduce suchinformation on several tapes according to an order or sequence which isintelligible for accounting or billing purposes. Coded information mayalso be reproduced as transmitted from a remote point.

It is a particular object of the present invention to sort and reproducethe random coded information by means of a novel, compact,electromechanical mechanism. c

Briefly the invention comprises a set of cams with associated Vcamfollowers and mechanical linkages for controlling the reperforators, aperforated tape containing coded information arranged at random, a tapefeed drum and cam opunperforated tape anda tape drum and tape drumrstepping means and a punching mechanism, said punching mechanismnormally in an inoperative position, each reperforator unit providedwith aselecting means controlled by a certain part of each set of codedinformation, a common oscillating select bar, said selecting meansarranged under control of said certain part of each code set to changethe position of a selectedV reperforator units punching mechanism suchthat the aforesaid code bars may actuatesaid mechanism to thereby punchsaid code in the tape of a selected reperforator unit, said punchingmechanism effective when its position is changed to advance theassociated tape drum one step.

Other features of the present invention, such as selective response toremote control, will be apparent from the following detailed descriptionof an embodiment thereof. The exemplary embodiment is illustrated in thedrawings forming a part of this disclosure and which drawings aredescribed generally as follows:

Fig. 1 shows one form of the invention in perspective;

Fig. 2 shows a side elevation of the mechanism of Fig. 1 on a largerscale and simplified in certain respects;

Fig. 2A shows a modified code bar control means for remote control;

Fig. 3 is a cut-away section along thelines 3--3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of part of the selecting mechanism of Fig. 2and taken in the direction of 4 4 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 shows, in part, a typical composite perforated tape.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION The embodiment of the present invention describedherein by way of example is composed of the following principal parts:

(l) A reader or sensing mechanism I provided for the purpose ofdetermining by means of the sensing ngers I l and sensing pins I2thereon which perforation positions comprise holes, such as I3, in eachrow of perforation positions in the composite tape I4 for each stepped,or sensing position of reader tape drum I5.

(2) A control circuit I 6 responsive to a code signal from certain ofthe sensing nger contacts, such as Il, to actuate one or more selectmagnets, such as l| for perforator unit |00, in accordance with the saidcode signal. Such a control circuit is fully disclosed in patent2,558,476 to W. W. Carpenter and J. W. Gooderham of June 26, 195i, andconcerning District Assembler Circuit, which disclosure=is to beconsidered a part of the present disclosure.

(3) Several perforator units, such as 100, 200 and 300, comprisinggenerally tape drums 02, 202 and 302 for advancing unperforated tapes|03, 203 and 303, and combined pivotal punching and drum steppingassembliesk |04, 204 and 304 whereby, under control of select magnets|0|, 20| and 30| and code bars, such as |8 (to be described), theindividual unperforated tapes |03, 203 and 303 may be perforated suchthat the random coded information prepunched in reader tape i4 can berepeated on several tapes, such as |03, 203 and 303 in some definiteorder or sequence, as will be described.

(4) A series of code bars, such as |0, common to all perforator units,such as |00, 200 and 300, and under the control of sensing ngers ofreader Hl whereby, by means of notches, such as |05, 205 and 305 in codebars i8, said code bars, if moved, can effect the perforating of holesin perforator tapes |03, 203 and 303 depending upon which select magnets|0|,'20| or 30| are operated.

(5) An oscillating select bar I0 common to all perforator units, such as|00, 200 and 300 to which, under thecontrol of select magnets |0|, and30|, one or more of the pivotal punching and drive assemblies |04, 204or 304 may be latched in order that such assembly or assemblies may beseasonably pivoted into operative relationship with code bars I8depending upon the response of control circuit I3 to the actuation ofsensing finger contacts of reader l0.

(6) A cam drive mechanism 20 common to all mechanisms of the combinedgang reperforator of Figs. 1 and 2 to provide positive mechanicaldriving force to all moving parts of the embodiment, with the exceptionof the latching actions of select magnets |0I, 20| and 30| and readerblocking magnet 2|.

(7) Mechanical checking devices, such as 22 and 23, for checking correctcode bar action. The

coded information punched in composite tape |4 in the present example isthe well-known twoout-of-five code whereby digital information isrepresented by a code of two punched holes out of a possible ve holepunching position. The

devices, such as 22, are associated with each group of ilve code bars |8andby means of linkage action (to be explained) control associatedcontact assemblies 24 and 25 such that if any group of rive code bars I3exhibits any combination of movements other than exactly two of saidbars in motion the contact assembly, such as 24, will effect operationof blocking magnet 2| to block the stepping of reader drum |5, therebyto prevent further forward action of the reperforator until theincorrect code bar movement has been investigated and the cause of suchimproper action remedied.

Other features of the invention will be apparent from the subsequentdetailed description of the construction and operation of the disclosedembodiment of the invention.

GENERAL OPERATION Fig. 5 illustrates what a portion of a typical readertape I4 might look like if the illustrated punched code conformed tointelligible information. No attempt has been made to make theillustrated punched holes conform to any particular intelligence. Atypical tape |4 has six longitudinal columns 20, 21, 28, 29, 30 and 3|.These columns are imaginary in actual practice. Crosswise of said tapeI4 are what are called line entries. A line consists of twenty-eighthole positions such as 32. Actually a line is two rows staggered inorder to be able to more closely space sensing iingers and punch pins inperforators. Each column, except column 20, contains exactly iive holepositions of which only two are punched in accordance with thetwo-outof-iive code used herein by way of example. Column 25 containsthree hole positions which are punched according to certain controlsignal codes. Thus, in all, there are twenty-eight punch positions andthus the reader I0 contains twentyeight sensing ngers and the mechanismas a whole has twenty-eight code bars I8. Likewise there will be fivechecking assemblies, such as 22 and 23.

The information recorded in such a composite tape as |4 for automaticmessage accounting and billing purposes is recorded on two line entries,such as 33, or four line entries, such as 34, depending upon how muchinformation is required for properly charging a subscriber for theparticular call. Each two or four line entry is punched on tape |4 atcertain significant points in time. For instance, an initial entry ismade when a calling subscriber initiates a call, a second entry is madewhen the called subscriber answers and a final entry is made when theconversation ends. desired. Thus, if tape |4 contains entries for alarge number of calling subscribers the various entries pertaining to aparticular subscriber will be in random sequence along the length of thetape which corresponds to passage of time. It is for the unscramblingand sorting and rearranging in an orderly manner of such random codedinformation that the present invention is useful.

In order to sense or read the random coded intelligence and reperforatesuch codes in an orderly manner, it is necessary to select one or morereperforators, such as |00, 200 or 300, for reproduction of perforationssensed in tape I4 and belonging together in sequence for billingpurposes. Such reproduction, or sorting as it is frequently referred to,is capable of being accomplished according to many procedures. One suchprocedure is to sort by calling subscribers numbers. Such sortingrequires many passages of tapes through reperforating machines in orderto sort by thousands digits, hundreds digits, tens digits, units digits,etc. Each reperforator, such as the gang reperforator shown in Figs. 1and 2, may be arranged such that the sensing finger contacts of thereaders will furnish the control circuit |6 with the coded informationlying within certain lines and columns of the tape I4 according to thesorting procedure. The control circuit I6 will then eiect the selectionof the proper perforator |00, 200 or 300 for the reproduction thereby ofsuch information as corresponds to the sorting procedure.

The foregoing brief description of sorting operations is well known tothose familiar with such methods of automatic message charging,accounting and billing and is more fully described Other entries may bemade if INH d No attempt has been made in the drawings to dene theshapes 'of the lcams 2, `3, 4, 5 and 6 sccured to main drive shaft I;nor, has there been any attempt to specify the direction of rotation nor speed of shaft I nor, are the lengths of lines and pivot armsintended to be limiting. The proper timing of the functioning of theapparatus willV be specified suiliciently to make understandable theproper construction and functioning of the camming mechanism.

Reading o1" sensing It is assumed for the purposes of subsequentdescription that a composite tape I4 hasbeen prepared in the normalvcourse of business in an automatic telephone oillee and that aparticular procedure of sorting has been decided upon whereby thesensing finger contacts, such as I1, comprise the sorting signal meansfor directing the control cricuit I6. f

The positions of the apparatus of Figs. l, 2,-,.3 and. 4 represent .thenormal positions just subsequent to the instant when reader drum I5 hasbeen stepped one step clockwise to present to the reader I a fresh lineof coded information to be sensed.

. Cam follower roller 1 is depressed by cam 4 against the restrainingaction of springv 31 to rotate drive pawl arm 38 clockwise about pivot A39 to thereby engage .spring drivey pawl 4.0 with the succeeding toothon ratchet wheel 4I secured to drum I5. When cam 4 permits roller 1 tobe raised under the action of spring 31 the pawl :arm 38 will rotatecounterclockwise toits normal position and in so doing will advance drumI one step clockwise through the agency of pawl 40, stop 42 and ratchet4|. One step advance of drum I5 represents the advance of one so-called"line of punch positions on tape I4.

Next, cam follower roller 8 is depressed by cam 2' against the actionlof spring 43. The depression of cam 8 rotates arm 44 clockwise aboutpivot 45 to rotate bail 46 clockwise to thereby release all of thesensing fingers I I. All .sensing fingers II attempt torotatencounter-clockwise under the action of their individual springs.l4'|. Only-those fingers II, however, whose sensing pinsiZ findperforations in tape I4 opposite their ends, Vwill actually rotate toany extent. Those ngers II which do rotate accomplish at least twothings; namely, actuate their corresponding contacts I1 and unlock formovement the corresponding code bars I8., as will be discussed. Thoseiingers I I which do not rotate appreciably will `lock correspondingcode bars I8 against movement.

` Selecting a perforator As previously outlined with reference toutheabovevv identied Carpenter-Gooderham patent by pivoting `about pivotagainst therestraining force of spring 5I.. In the normal position ofarmature 48, as illustrated in Fig; 4,'1'8; stop-.52 limits the released'position of armaturen and thusk determines the normal released positionfof wire spring' v53. Spring 53 'is rigidly secured to the combinedstepping andpunching mechanisms |04 of perforator |00 and is normally,by reason of its own resilience, biased toA such position that its upperhorizontal pin. extension 54 is retracted from engagement with holeinthe oscillating select bar I9. Select bar I9 is therefore free tooscillate (horizontally in Fig. 2) freely with respect to assembly ormechanism |04 when select magnet IOI is not energized'.v When armature48 is attracted to core 49 `of select magnetfml, as above, pin extension54 of wire spring 53 is inserted through the aligned holes 55 and I56 ofselect bar I9 and the vertical arm 510i mechanism |04. When theoscillating Iselect bar I9sub sequently moves to the left in Fig. 2 itwill ro? tate the mechanism |04 counterclockwise about pivot v50, sincearm 51 is arranged'in. any known manner to rotate mechanism |04 as saidarm 51 is itself rotated, to eifect va selection of vmecha-- nism |04 ofperforator |00. It will be obvious that pin 54 of the Wire spring 53 may`recuiire clearance in hole 55 depending upon the extent and type. ofmotion, etc.,.of bar I9. Whenselect magnet I0'I is released the. pinextensionv .of wire spring 53 is withdrawn.fromv vengagez!lent withselect bar I9 to release perforator mecha-y nism |04. Of course, othersuch mechanisms could be selected andrv releasedv simultaneously ifdesired as will be understood ldependinggupon thecontrol exercisedv bycontrol circuit I-over the various select magnets. .I0.I, 20| and 30|,etc.

After perforator mechanism |04. hasA beenv selected, .camv followerroller 9; is raised Aon cam 6 under the action of spring 59 vto rotatearm B0 clockwise about pivot 6|. 'l When arm 50 is'I thus rotated aboutpivot 6I, .select barI9 is moved to the left in Fig. v2 through theagency of theffree pivot pin 62. Such movement of the select bar I9, towhich perforator mechanism 1.04 islatc'hed through the agency ofvertical arm 5.1 and wire spring extension. 54, will rotate arm 51. Yandthe entire perforator mechanism .|04 `about pivot 58` against the actionof spring 63 such that the right-.hand ends B4 of perioratorpunchpins55' engage slots |05 in code bars lli. In the same operation ofmechanism |114v the drive pawl E6 engaged with the 'succeeding 'tootho'f ratchet '51' secured to drum |02 in 'preparation forstep'ping thedrum I 02 and `tape |03 uponthe release of mechanism |04. l.

, Code' bar operation I Subsequent to the selection of a perfo-rating'mechanism, such as |04 as labove, cam follower 35 is .operated by cam 3to .thereby rotate lbail 5'8 clockwise away from the extensions 6.9 ofythe code bar .locking ylevers 10. Under .the action of' springs 1|., allcode .bar locking levers 1E) vwill rotate counterclockwise about pivots89 provided the `corresponding `extensions 12 of the correspondingsensing fingers II have been elevated out of the paths of theAextensions 13 of the code bar locking levers 10. Those code bar lockinglevers 10., .corresponding tov sensing fingers Il. whose .sensing pinsI2. have .engaged in, holes i3 in tape I4, will .rotate to .disengagetheteeth 14 thereof from the mating teeth 15 in the Aassociated code barsI8. The only mechanism which now prevents those unlockedcode'bars II!from' moving to thezleft in Fig. 2'is the bail 18. At approximately thistime in the sequence of cam operations, cam follower 36 is permitted .tolower on cam under the action of spring 'II so that the bail 'I6 isrotated clockwise about pivot 'I8 to release theunlocked code bars I8.Each unlocked code bar I8, which, it will be remembered, corresponds toa sensing pin I2 which entered a perforation I3 in tape I4, will vatthis stage be moved leftward in Fig. 2 under the action oi lever 19,pivoted counterclockwise about pivot 80, under the force of spring 8|.

Perforator punching When the unlocked code bars i8 are moved leftward inFig. 2, the notches |05 therein engage corresponding ends B4 of punchpins 65 of the selected perforator mechanism |04 and drive those punchpins 85 into the unperforated tape normal stop positions of punch pins85 under the action of springs 82.

Release to normal Cam follower 36 may be raised nrst whereupon code barsI8 are returned to normal by bail I6 against the restraining action ofsprings 'I1 and 8|.v Thereafter cam follower 9 may be depressed toreturn select bar I8 to normal to thereby rotate perforator mechanism|04 clockwise to normal. When mechanism |04 returns to normal vit stepsdrum |02 a step counterclockwise through the agency of pawl B6, stop 90and ratchet 61 to4 present the punch pins 65 of perforator |00 with anunperforated section of tape for the next entry thereon.

Code bars I8 and the select bar I8 may be returned to normalsimultaneously in order to save time provided `the comb 83 which guidespunch pins B5 is provided with vertical slots such that the left-handends of punch pins 65 may follow the holes in tape |03 as drum |02 stepsone step clockwise before the punch pins are fully withdrawn therefromby springs 82.

After code bars I8 and select bar I9 are returned to normal, camfollower 35 is permitted to lower on cam 3 under the action of spring 9|to thereby returnthe code bar locking levers 'I0 to normal by means ofbail 68 and to thereby lock said code bars I8 through the agency of themating teeth I4 and A'|5. The upper ends 1,3 of the locking levers I0are incidentally rotated clockwise out of the paths of the extensions'I2 of the sensing ngers II which are forced thereafter to return tonormal under the action of bail 46 when cam follower 8 is lowered on cam2 under the action of spring 43.

When sensing ngers |I are returned to normal the contacts I1 associatedtherewith are opened, or otherwise actuated, to signal the controlcircuit IB to release select magnet IDI, and anyA other select magnets,such as 20| or 30|, which may have been operated also. The release ofselect magnet IDI disengages the perforator mechanisms |04 from selectbar I9.

Finally, cam follower 1 is permitted to lower Check on Vcolle baroperation 'Each group of five code bars is mechanically connected to alinkage,V such as 22, for the purpose of checking proper two out `offive operation of such groups 'of code bars I8. The end of each code barI8 is connected to a different one of five points in linkage 22. A sixthpoint of linkage 22 is connected to a wire or rod 82 which in turn issecured to a contact spring actuating card 93 whose normal position isdetermined by bias springs 94 and a stop 95.

The linkage 22 is so constructed that: if only one code bar is moved thewire 92 will move oneiifth of the distance that the code bar moved; iftwo code bars move, the wire 92 will move twoiifths of the distance onecode bar moved; if three code bars move,l the wire 92 will movethree-fifths of the distance one code bar moved; and so forth.` i

The contact arrangement 24 is constructed such that there will be acontinuous circuit therethrough from conductor 96 to conductor 91whenever wire 92 is moved any distance other than that representingmovement of only two code bars I8. That condition (other than two out ofilve code bars moved) will be recognized as a faulty operation of themechanism. When only one code bar I8 moves the make contacts 98 areclosed to complete the circuit-mentioned over the break contacts 99.When two code bars I8 move, then the make contacts 98 are closed butbreak contacts 99 are opened to thereby open the circuit. If three ormore code bars I8 operate, then make contacts |06 close to bridge theopen contacts 99 to again complete the circuit. Whenever the conductors98 and 91 are completed in circuit through the Contact arrangement, thusindicating incorrect operation of the mechanism, or for that matter,whenever the conductors |01 and |08 from' any other checking contactarrangement for other groups of ve code bars are completed in saidcircuit, the operation of relay |08 results as isobvious. Key IIO may bekept closed to provide `a locking circuit for relay |09 and to provide avisual or' audible signal III. The operation of relay |09 completes anobvious circuit for energizing the latch magnet 2 I. At' the time whencode bars I8 are moved the lever arm 38 which carries the drivemechanism for drum I5 will be in its clockwise rotated position as abovedescribed. Since said lever arm 38 is rotated clockwise from itsnormal'position in Fig. 2, the right angle extension I I2 on the end ofarmature I|3 of magnet/2| will be moved to a position just below leverarm' 38 such that said lever arm 38 cannot return to normal due to theinterposition v of armature extension II2 in its return path. If

said lever 38 cannot return to normal at the proper time the drum I5will not be advanced and the mechanism will repeatedly read the sameline until the fault is corrected.

Code bar lcomrol from a. remote location Referring particularly to Fig.2A, an arrangement is shown which modiflesthe code bar control mechanismof Fig. 2 so that said code bars I8 may be actuated or enabled by asource external of the gang reperforator mechanism.

' Apparatus elements which are unchanged from Fig. 2 to Fig. 2A areindicated by the same reference numbers.

In order that the gang reperforator be controllable from a remotelocation rather than from a perforated tape, such as I4, through theagency of sensing fingers II, the apparatus arrangement of Fig. 2`Amaybe employedfin lieu of the corresponding portion of Fig. 2v. Fig. 2A lprovides added flexibility .to the whole mechanism since it will operatein the same overall manner as previously described in connection with aperiorated tape control med-lum such as I4 and it will also operate froma remote location through the agency of magnets, such as II4, toperforate in perforator units, such as |60, 266 and 306 codedinformation translated through the agency of magnets IIII into motion ofcode bars I8.

Certain rearrangement of elements ot the code bar control mechanism ofFig. 2 and addition of new elements thereto characterizes the moreflexible mechanism of Fig. 2A. The sensing ngers II are moved toward thetape |4 under the action of springs I I5 when bail I I6 is rotated outof the paths of sensing fingers II. The bail |I6 is so rotated clockwisewhen a new cam follower roller |I.1 is lowered on a new cam 1 under theaction of a spring IIS to thereby rotate bail arm (I9 clockwise aboutpivot I 2|). The extensions 12 of sensing pins II of Fig. 2 are separatefrom the corresponding sensing ngers I I of Fig. 2A and may rotate aboutpivot I2| independently of sensing ingers II. However, if normal tapesensing isv employed, whereupon sensing .lingers .I I are 'permitted tomove counterclockwise about pivotI 2 I, said sensing fingers I I willengage tangs |22 on corresponding members 12 to thereby rotate saidmembers 12 in exactly the same manner asin Fig. 2 when bail 46 ofvFig. 2was removed from its holding position as shown in Fig. 2.

When, however, it is desired to control the mechanism of thereperforatorfrom a remote location the sensing and stepping mechanismsof reader l must be immobilized. Leads |23 may he energized` from theVremote location to disable the stepping mechanism of reader l as aboveexplained in connection with the two-out-ofv-nve Acheck circuit of Fig.2. Leads gized as well to operate a 'armature |26 of magnet |25 o .pivotv|21 to interpose a-stop |28 into the path of projection |29 on bail armIIS to prevent the 'release of sensing fingers I by bail IIE. There isprovided one magnet ||4 for each code bar ,I8 and the circuit thereforeextends over contacts [30 and lead I3 to said remote location. Thecontacts |36 are pretensioned normally to closed pcsition but'are heldopen by bail 46unti1 said bailfll 'is rotated away to permit contacts|30 'to' close. Such movement of bail 46 willcorre.- spend in timing tothe same, movement of the same bail 46 of'Fig. 2 which unlocked codebars It is assumed that the magnets 2| and I 25 have been operated as.above explained and that Athe cam shaft I is in operation'and thatcertain of the 28 leads I3I have been energized by batjtery .at the.remote location in accordance with fcoded information to be perforatedin one or more of periorators |60, 200, 300 etc. At the proper time, aspreviously explained in connection with the discussion of Figs. l andv2, bail` 46 will Vbe raised away from contacts |30 which thereuponclose to energize all magnets I .I 4 whose leads I3 I have'beenenergized. The operation of mag- |24 may be enermagnet |25. The willrotate about .net [I4 attracts its armature |32v against theieciiceiofsprieg' mi? push rod '3i-4 .against the tangs |22 on thelevers 12.

lever extension |35 of member 12 to thereby lift the outervend of member12 out of the path of the code bar` locking lever arm 13. The member '52will rotate under the control of magnet II4 independently of and free ofsensing fingers II to unlock certain corresponding code bars I8 aspreviously explained in connectionwiththe mechanisms of Figs. 1 and 2.When bail 46 opens the contacts |36 to effect the release of magnets I|4 the springs its vwill return the mem'- bers I2 to their normalpositions to again mechanically loci: code bars I8 against movement.Contacts, such as |31, which may be arranged to be closed when bail 46is normal and open when bail 46 is Arotated to allow contacts |36 toclose, may be employed as a signal to the remote location over leads |33for proper synchronization between the timing of the gang reperforatorand the means at the remote'location for applying battery to leads I3|of magnet' I I4.

In regard to the operation of select magnets, such as IGI, 20|, 36|,etc. from the remotev location, it will be appreciated that thesynchronizing contacts |31 may readily control circuits at the remotelocation (not shown) which can select over leads (not shown)v one ormore select mage nets IUI, etc., as desired in accordance with the codedinformation to beV transmitted by battery on leads |3I.

Furthermore, the apparatus of Ythe present invention is adapted, merelyby elimination of the tangs I 22 on the locking levers 12 of Fig. 2A; toenable complete operationthrough aremote station. The' sensedinformation may be relayed electrically to a remote station where atranslating device, such asis disclosed inPatent 2,369,474 to H. P. Luhnof February 13, 1945, can repeat the information over leads |3| or cantransmit over leads I 3| new or computed or translated informationdepending upon the nature of the information sent to the remote stationby the sensing pin contacts, such as I1; Theinformation received overleads I3I will control the reperforator as above independently oi thesensing pins II; whereas, the movementof the sensing pins IIisineifective in controlling the locking' levers 12 except through theagency of the remote circuit. Obviously, such remote translation orrepetition, as the case may be, can be made rapid enough with respect tothe timing of the ratchet mechanisms 38 and of the bail ||6 to effectremote operation within a single sensing cycle without necessitating theoperation of the blocking magnets 2| and |25.

In addition, it will be appreciated that local sensing' pinv controlover theV locking levers 12 can be combined within a translating orcomputing function,` as discussed above, by retaining The latter'arrange'- ment requires the timely operation of the blocking magnet |25,rearranged slightly (not shown), in order to return the depressedsensing pins II to their normal positions to in turn release allof theassociated locking levers 12 `except those independently actuated bymagnets I I4v whenever the remote translating or computing circuitrecognizes an electrical indication from the contacts I1 requesting atranslation ofthe information. This operation of magnet |25 requires aslight modification (not shown) to permit magnet |25, when energized, toexercise a direct force to rotate the arm I I9 clockwise instead ofmerely performing a passive preventative function as dis.- closed inFigure 2A. Such modification will be obvious. The synchronizingcontracts |31 may be used as an indication as to when the remote circuitshould relinquish control over magnet 125 and of magnets H4 aspreviously mentioned.

Since modifications may be made to the exemplary embodiment of theinvention within the spirit and scope of said invention, claims areappended which alone denne the nature and scope of the presentinvention.

. What is claimed is:

1. A gang reperforator comprising a plurality of perforator units eachhaving an unperforated tape and movable punch pins, a plurality ofmovable code bars common to said perforator units andv corresponding tosaid punch pins, locking means for each code bar normally locking saidcode bar against movement, said pins situated with respect to said codebars such that normally no coaction exists therebetween, a selectingmechanism common to all perforator units for selecting at least one ofsaid units by moving the punch pins thereof into position to be actuatedby corresponding code bars when said code bars are moved, mechanicalmeans selectively movable to selectively actuate certain of said lockingmeans to thereby unlock certain corresponding code bars, said unlockedcode bars arranged to be moved to thereby engage corresponding punchpins of said selected perforator unit for perforating said unperforatedtape in accordance with the pattern of locking means actuated by saidmechanical means.

2. A gang reperforator comprising a perforated tape sensing mechanismhaving sensing ngers movable in response to the sensing of perforationsin said tape, code bars associated with said iingers and operable inresponse to movement of corresponding ngers, a plurality of perforatorunits each having an unperforated tape and movable punch pinscorresponding to said code bars, said pins situated with respect to saidcode bars such that normally no coaction exists therebetween, aselecting mechanism common to all perforator units and operable undercontrol of said sensing lingers for selecting at least one of saidperiorator units by moving the punch pins thereof into position to beactuated by corresponding code bars, said code bars effective whenoperated under the control of the movement of said iingers to actuatecorresponding punch pins of said selected perforator unit forperforating said unperforated tape in accordance With the movement ofsaid ngers.

3. A gang reperforator comprising a perforated tape sensing mechanismhaving sensing fingers movable in response to the sensing ofperforations in said tape, code bars associated with and correspondingto said fingers and operable in respense to movement of correspondingiingers, a plurality of perforator units each having an unperforatedtape and movable punch pins corresponding to said code bars, said pinssituated with respect to said code bars such that normally no coactionexists therebetween, a common selecting means associable with any ofsaid perforator units, electromagnetic means controlled by said sensingfingers for selecting at least one of said perforator units byoperatively associating said selected unit with said selecting means,said selecting means arranged to move said punch pins of said selectedperforator unit into operative relationship with corresponding codebars, said code bars effective when operated under the control of themovement of said fingers to actuate corresponding punch pins of saidselected perforator unit for perforating said unperforated tape inaccordance with the movement of said ngers.

4. A gang reperforator comprising a perforated tape sensing mechanismhaving sensing fingers movable in response to the sensing ofperforations in said tape, code bars associated with and correspondingto said fingers and movable in response to movement of saidcorresponding ngers, a plurality of perforator units each having anunperforated tape and a movable assembly of individually actuable punchpins associable with and corresponding to said code bars, said assemblysituated with respect to said code bars such that normally no coactionexists between said code bars and said punch pins, a common continuouslymovable selecting mechanism associable with any of said perforator unitsfor moving any of said assemblies, electromagnetic means controlled bymovement of said sensing lingers for selecting at least one of saidperforator units by associating said assembly thereof with saidselecting mechanism, said selecting mechanism arranged to move saidassociated assembly Y to situate the punch pins thereof into operativerelationship with said code bars, said code 'bars effective when movedunder the control of the movement of corresponding sensing ngers toactuate corresponding punch pins of said selected perforator unit forperforating said unperforateci tape in accordance with the movement ofsaid fingers.

5. A gang reperforator comprising a perforated tape sensing mechanismhaving a sensing finger for each perforation sensing position on saidtape, each of said lingers movable in response to the sensing of acorresponding perforation in said tape, a movable normally mechanicallylocked code bar associated with each sensing finger and arrangedmechanically to be unlocked when said corresponding iinger senses aperforation in said tape, a plurality of perforator'units each having anunperforated tape and a movable assembly of punch pins equal to thenumber of and corresponding to said code bars, said assembly situatedwith respect to said code bar such that normally no coaction existsbetween said code bars and said punch pins, a common oscillating selectbar associable with any of said perforator units for moving any of saidassemblies, electromagnet means controlled by movement of said sensingfingers for selecting at least one of said perforator units bymechanically associating said assembly thereof with said select bar,said select bar arranged under the control of said electromagnetic meansto move said associated assembly to 'situate all of the punch pinsthereof into operative relationship with said code bars, said code barseffective when moved under the control of the movement of'correspondingsensing fingers to actuate corresponding punch pins of said selectedperforator unit for perforating said unperforated tape in accordancewith the moved sensing ngers.

6. A gang reperforator comprising a perforated tape sensing mechanismhaving a sensing finger for each perforation sensing position on saidtape, each of said lingers movable in response to the sensing of acorresponding perforation in said tape, a movable normally mechanicallylocked code bar associated with each sensing finger and arrangedmechanically to be unlocked by said corresponding finger when saidcorresponding nger senses a perforation in said tape, a plurality ofperforator units each having an unperforated tape and a pivotal assemblyof 13 punch pins equal to the number of and corresponding to said codebars, said assembly situated with respect to said code bars such thatnormally no coaction exists between said code bars and said punch pins,a common oscillating select bar associable with any of said perforatorunits for pivoting any of said assemblies, electromagnetic latchingmeans controlled by movement of said sensing iingers for selecting atleast one of said perforator units by mechanically latching saidassembly thereof to said select bar, said select bar arranged under thecontrol of said electromagnetic means to pivot said associated assemblyto situate all of the punch pins thereof into operative relationshipwith said code bars,

said code bars eiective when moved under the control of the movement ofcorresponding sensing ngers to actuate corresponding punch pins of saidselected perforator unit for perforating said unperforated tape inaccordance with the moved sensing fingers.

7. A gang reperforator comprising a perforated tape and sensing fingersfor sensing the information perforated in said perforated tape, aplurality of perforating units each having an unperforated tape andpivotal punching means for perforating said unperforated tape undercontrol of said sensing ngers, a continuously oscillating selecting bar,latching means individual to each unit for latching respective pivotalpunching means thereof to said select bar under control of said sensingfingers, a group of code bars common to all perforator units and movedmechanically under control of said sensing fingers, each of said codebars provided with mechanical means for engaging said punching means forperforating unperforated tape thereby when said punching means ispivoted so as to be engaged by said mechanical means, all of saidpunching means normally located so as not to be engaged by saidmechanical means but se-` lectively pivotal under control of saidlatching means so Ias to be selectively engaged by said mechanicalmeans, whereby said sensing fingers uponsensing information perforatedin said perforated tape control said latching means in accordance withsaid sensing information to latch the punching means of selectiveperforator -units to said select bar for pivoting said means intoposition where lsame are engaged by said code bars when same are movedmechanically under the control of said sensing fingers in accordancewith said sensing information to thereby perforate said unperforatedtape of said selected perforated units in accordance with said sensinginformation.

8. A gang -reperforator arrangement comprising a plurality of cams andmechanical means for actuating said cams, a blocking magnet, selectingmagnets, a source of electrical energy for operating said magnets, vaperforated tape and driving means for advancing said tape in steps, camactuated means for sensing perforations in said perforated tape for eachstep position thereof under control of said blocking magnet, andelectrical contacts influenced by said sensing means for controllingelectrical energy supplied to said selecting magnets, reperforatingunits, each unit comprising an unperforated tape and driving means for.advancing said unperforated tape in steps, and punch means for punchingperforations in 'said unperforated tape for each step position thereofunder control of said perforated tape sensing means, a plurality of codebars common to all reperforator units and mechanical means for movingsaid bars under mechanical control of said perforated tape sensingmeans, said bars moved in groups in accordance with the design ofperforation sensed by said sensing means for each step position of saidperforated tape, a cam actuated oscillating select bar common to allreperofrator units, said select magnet selectively energized by saidsensing means influenced contacts for each step position of saidperforated tape to enable said punching means for selected perforatedunits to be operated by certain of said code bars permitted to move bysaid sensing means, whereby for each step position of said perforatedtape the information represented by the perforations sensed in saidposition is repeated by suitable punched perforations in saidunperforated tapes of reperforating units' selected for reproductiontherein of said information in accordance lwith the information sensed,mechanical means for checking correct movement of said code bars foreach step position of said perforated tape and electrical contactsinfluenced by said checking means to control electrical energy suppliedto said blocking magnet to block the stepping operations concerned withsaid perforated tape in the event said checking means detects incorrectmovement of said code bars.

HAROLD W. GOFF.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,112,951 Carpenter et al. Apr.5, 1938 2,204,957 Carpenter et al. June 18, 1940 2,386,763 Williams Oct.16, 1945 2,473,437 Mallina June 14, 1949

